Driver Information Systems

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the results of the consultation on the In-Vehicle Information Systems; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The replies to the consultation are in the process of being analysed, with consideration also being given to other relevant material such as the 26 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1769 adjournment debate on satellite navigation. Once this work is complete, the results of the consultation will be published. No date has yet been fixed but I expect the information to be issued shortly.

Driver Information Systems

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps  (a) to regulate in-vehicle information systems and  (b) to produce a code of conduct to mitigate against incorrect routeing by navigation systems; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport is reviewing the existing legislation and practice on in-vehicle information systems (MS). The review is being informed by responses to the recent MS public consultation and by other relevant information. Our chief interest is to ensure, whether by regulation, code of practice and/or other means, that the human-machine interface aspects of route guidance systems are safe and that the guidance offered by such systems is designed so as to avoid inappropriate routeing. No conclusions have yet been reached on the best way forward. Any proposal developed following the review will be subject to further public consultation as part of the statutory process.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the crackdown on overseas registered vehicles announced in August 2006.

Stephen Ladyman: Checks by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) on drivers and vehicles on international journeys in the South East of England increased from 14,100 in 2005-06 to 34,500 in 2006-07. 47 per cent. of the vehicles checked for roadworthiness were found to have defects which could result in prohibition, 20 per cent. of the checks on drivers' hours showed offences and 26 per cent. of vehicles weighed were overloaded.
	This increased level of activity has been effective in the number of dangerous vehicles and drivers that have been prevented from continuing their journeys on the UK road network. It is too early to say whether there has been any deterrent effect.

Rescue Services: Compensation

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure a quick resolution of the dispute between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Coastguard Rescue Officers over injury cover;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the dispute with coastguard rescue officers over insurance cover; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency have kept me fully informed of developments with the withdrawal of front-line services by some Coastguard Rescue Teams. Full-time staff within the MCA and the volunteer members of its Coastguard Rescue Service are covered for injuries sustained while on duty and consequential loss of earnings by the Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme (CSIBS) details of which can be found at:
	http://www.civilservice-pensions.gov.uk/upload/assets/www.civilservice_pensions.gov.uk/rules/csibs_81206.pdf
	Discussions within the MCA have resulted in agreement on interim arrangements and a full search and rescue service has resumed. A MCA working group is being set up to consider compensation arrangements for the future.

Rescue Services: Compensation

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that volunteer coastguard rescue officers injured on duty receive prompt and adequate compensation;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the adequacy of injury cover for volunteer coastguard rescue officers.

Stephen Ladyman: In the event of an injury on duty, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has in place the following procedures:
	a interim payment scheme to avoid hardship;
	entitlement to make a claim as a person performing duties on behalf of the Crown from the Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme.
	The MCA is actively considering future arrangements and is discussing concerns with Coastguard Rescue Officers.

Press Gallery

Philip Hollobone: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what assessment has been made of utilising part of the Press Gallery above the Commons Chamber for visitor access.

Nick Harvey: Only security screened pass holders or Members' guests can sit in front of the security screen and visitors are restricted to the area behind the security screen. This is based on security advice and a result of a number of incidents of which the Member will be aware. However, Mr. Speaker is keen to welcome visitors to the House and has asked that officers look into this proposal.

Portcullis House: Escalators

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will ensure that the opportunity afforded by the works due to be undertaken to the Portcullis House escalator is used to reintroduce motion-sensitive operation.

Nick Harvey: The new escalators will incorporate motion sensitive operation with an energy efficient control system.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent on hospitality by his Office in financial year 2006-07.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr. Hayes) and the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) on 11 October 2006,  Official Report, column 788W.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what measures are in place to limit the amount of money spent on alcohol for hospitality purposes by her Department.

Harriet Harman: My Department follows the principles of "Government Accounting" and the Treasury handbook on "Regularity and Propriety" in respect of hospitality.
	These sources are supplemented by DCA internal policy on regularity and propriety forming part of the departmental Finance Manual that applies to all staff. This requires that hospitality be appropriate to the circumstances and states that it is not appropriate for public money to be used for staff functions such as leaving parties.
	The only specific reference to alcohol within the policy relates to staff conferences, where it states:
	"a modest amount of table wine can be provided with the (conference) meal. However, the amount and frequency should be tightly controlled. The cost of the wine should form part of the consideration of the overall cost of the event".
	Beyond this, DCA policy requires that all substantive hospitality, given or received by staff, be approved in advance by a senior officer with details entered on a hospitality (and gifts) register.
	This policy covers all DCA staff, including those in agencies. It excludes Ministers and judges who have their own codes of conduct.

Gaza: Sewers

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations have been made to the Israeli government to ensure that access is granted to those involved in the task of building new Gaza sewage plants.

Hilary Benn: The Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and the World Bank met with the Government of Israel on 28 March. Following this, the Israeli Government agreed to provide free access to the area, to facilitate the import of necessary equipment, and to provide technicians. The UK has made no representations to the Israeli Government on this issue.

Gaza: Sewers

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance the UK is offering towards international efforts to build new treatment plants to prevent future sewage floodings in Gaza.

Hilary Benn: The Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and the World Bank have been leading a joint donor project to provide more sewerage facilities since 2004. This comprises three phases. Phase One will reduce the risk of imminent flooding into residential areas; Phase Two will create additional capacity through building a larger pumping station; and Phase Three involves building a new treatment plant.
	The PWA already has funds available for Phase One, which it aims to complete in June 2007. The World Bank, France, Sweden, Belgium and the European Commission have contributed to Phases Two and Three of this project. The European commission has contributed around €6 million, of which the UK pays a 17 per cent. share (just over €1 million). The UK is not contributing direct financial assistance to the project. DFID has been encouraging those donors directly involved to move forward as quickly as possible, and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

HIV/AIDS and TB

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's budget for HIV/AIDS was spent on tuberculosis/HIV collaborative activities in each year between 2003 and 2006.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has recently introduced a new methodology for monitoring AIDS and HIV expenditure. Bilateral expenditure figures based on this methodology are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Table 1: DFID bilateral expenditure on HIV-AIDS 2003-04 to 2005-06 
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 205.2 
			 2004-05 253.3 
			 2005-06 315.4 
		
	
	The level of detail available on our central systems does not allow us to systematically capture the amount of expenditure on HIV/TB collaborative activities. However, DFID is able to separately identify spending on communicable disease control, of which spending on TB related activities is a part. Table 2 shows estimates of DFID's bilateral expenditure, excluding poverty reduction budget support (PRBS) on communicable disease control over the same period. This table only includes directly targeted support and excludes other expenditure which will have an impact on TB such as broader support to strengthen health systems.
	
		
			  Table 2: Direct DFID bilateral expenditure on communicable diseases 2003-04 to 2005-06 
			   £ million 
			 2003-04 65.2 
			 2004-05 80.7 
			 2005-06 82.2 
		
	
	DFID recognises that the efforts against HIV and TB are inextricably linked. TB incidence rates have at least doubled in Sub Saharan Africa in the last 15 years. 50 per cent. of TB deaths are in people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in Africa (7 per cent. in south East Asia). TB/HIV co-infection is now the central and most worrying feature of the epidemic. The two diseases must be considered together. The biggest challenge to integration in resource limited settings are human resources. TB diagnosis is also difficult in PLWHA, and TB and HIV drug interactions make treatment very complex. New TB diagnostic tools are needed.
	DFID is providing support to help countries strengthen their health systems. In Malawi, we are helping with £100 million emergency programme over six years, part of which aims to double the number of nurses and triple and number of doctors, and retain them through better pay and conditions, with a salary increase of 50 per cent. We are also providing support directly to strengthen national TB programmes. For example, in China, DFID has allocated £28 million over seven years towards reducing tuberculosis morbidity and mortality through an effective and sustainable national TB control programme focused on the poor. This has involved raising case detection and treatment through directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) based services.
	In addition DFID funds a variety of multilateral organisations that contribute to programmes targeting both HIV/AIDS and TB. Most notably we have pledged £359 million to date to support the global fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), as our principal support to the provision of TB drugs.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects to answer the letters of  (a) 18 December 2006 and  (b) 19 December 2006 from the hon. Member for Northavon, which were transferred to his Department from HM Treasury on 3 January, on the financing of AIDS treatment around the world.

Gareth Thomas: Our records show that these letters of 18 and 19 December 2006 from the hon. Member for Northavon were not received in DFID. DFID officials have now obtained copies of these letters and a reply has issued.

Uganda: Overseas Aid

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department is providing assistance to the Ugandan government to facilitate the maintenance and expansion of safe areas in Northern Uganda.

Hilary Benn: The peace talks in Juba that have been taking place since July 2006 have resulted in huge improvements in the security situation in northern Uganda. In some areas people are now returning to their homes. In other areas, people are more cautious and still remain in camps. The Government of Uganda and their development partners have agreed that the process of return must be voluntary.
	Through our funding to the UN Consolidated Appeal we are helping provide humanitarian assistance both to people still living in displaced camps and those returning home. In the return areas this help includes: the provision of food to bridge the period while crops are being grown; the re-habilitation of water points; support to health services and the provision of protection programmes for women and children.
	With resources from the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool, we are also purchasing vehicles and communications equipment for the Uganda Police Force in the north. This is in support of a wider programme that is seeking to reintroduce and strengthen civilian policing both in the camps and the return areas. The absence of civilian police in many part of the north has been identified by communities as a major impediment to better protection, particularly of women and children.

Written Questions

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he expects to reply to Question 111209, on his Department's budget for tuberculosis/HIV collaborative activities, tabled by the hon. Member for St Ives on 22nd January 2007.

Gareth Thomas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today (UIN 111209).

Public Petitions

John Robertson: To ask the Leader of the House what discussions he has had on changes to the House's procedures relating to public petitions.

Paddy Tipping: My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about public petitions and believes that this House has a valuable role to play in looking at such petitions. The Procedure Committee has been examining the subject and has been taking evidence. I understand the Committee are due to report in the near future.

National Lottery

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what proportion of Lottery money was spent in the areas of  (a) health and  (b) education in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what proportion of Lottery money she expects to be spent in the areas of  (a) health and  (b) education in each of the next two years.

Richard Caborn: The health, education, environment and charitable purposes good cause is a broad one. Big lottery fund programmes and grants often cover two or more of these areas and we do not plan or report on the amount spent on each one separately.
	The amounts raised by the national lottery for distribution by the big lottery fund and its predecessors in each of the last five completed financial years, and the amounts that may be raised in each of the next two years according to Department's current projections, are given in the following table. The figures include both income generated by the Lottery operator, Camelot, and income from investment of the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) balance. Subject to the approval of Parliament funds will be transferred from the NLDF to the Olympic lottery distribution fund after January 2009 and this will reduce the amount available for distribution for this cause.
	
		
			  £ million( 1) 
			   Community fund  New opportunities fund  Big lottery fund  Totals 
			 2002-03 250 418 — 668 
			 2003-04 224 458 — 682 
			 2004-05 234 483 — 717 
			 2005-06 238 476 — 714 
			 2006-07 139 283 209 631 
			 2007-08(2) — — 665 665 
			 2008-09(2) — — 660 660 
			 (1) Rounded to nearest £1 million  (2) Projected

Parks Fund

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made by the National Lottery Heritage Fund team in assessing the Parks Fund application submitted by the hon. Member for Castle Point; and when she expects a decision will be made.

David Lammy: The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has received no formal application from the hon. Member for Castle Point. A pre-application form was submitted on 7 June 2006 after an initial meeting with the HLFs' regional manager for the east of England.
	On 14 June 2006, HLF wrote advising that they would discuss possibilities for park development with the potential applicants.
	Two subsequent meetings took place: on 5 October 2006 with the hon. Member for Castle Point, the chief executive of Castle Point borough council, HLF's regional committee chair and the regional manager, and on 4 December 2006 between HLF's development team and council officials where the possible application was discussed.
	To date no application has been received by HLF.

Departmental Expenditure

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department on buying, operating and supporting  (a) all commercial software products and  (b) software products produced by Microsoft was in each of the last three years.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq: Hospitals

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to assist hospitals in Iraq to secure access to adequate equipment and medications.

Hilary Benn: I have been asked to reply.
	DFID has given most of its assistance to the Iraqi health sector through financial contributions to international organisations that have particular expertise in health. For example, we have provided £70 million to the UN and World Bank trust funds for Iraq. At present, the trust funds are spending over $120 million to repair hospitals and train staff. There has been progress since 2003, with more than 1,000 healthcare facilities rehabilitated or equipped, and more than 6,000 health care workers trained.
	We have recently contributed £7 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to support protection and emergency assistance activities in Iraq. This includes provision of urgently needed medical supplies, such as war wounded kits to hospitals dealing with mass casualties, improving health facilities, including physical rehabilitation and training for staff, restoring and upgrading water and sanitation infrastructure and organising training for health professions and engineers.
	Much of our work aims to support the Iraqi Government spend its considerable oil wealth more effectively for the benefit of the Iraqi people. We are building the capacity of central government institutions to help ensure that finances are well managed and get to provincial authorities who can then buy drugs, fund hospitals and deliver services.

A12: Belfast

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vehicles were damaged by missiles thrown at vehicles on the A12 Belfast Westlink in  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007.

Paul Goggins: The PSNI has provided the following information relating to vehicles which were damaged by missiles on the A12 Belfast Westlink.
	
		
			   2006  2007( 1) 
			 Criminal damage (vehicle) 101 44 
			 Attacks on buses 5 3 
			 Attacks on emergency services vehicles 4 3 
			 Vehicles damaged by youths causing annoyance(2) 74 16 
			 Vehicles damaged in disturbances (minor)(3) 10 0 
			 (1) 1 January 2007 to 31 March 2007.  (2 )This relates to a situation were an initial report of youths having damaged vehicles was made but which was not confirmed, i.e. the person reporting does not stop at the scene and does not make any further contact with police to confirm that damage has been caused. Where confirmation is available, the incident is listed as criminal damage.  (3 )The above is similar to reports of vehicles damaged by youths causing annoyance, however it is felt that the incidents involved adult participation.

Hospitals: Hygiene

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of hand gels by  (a) members of hospital staff and  (b) visitors to hospitals in Northern Ireland for the purpose of infection control.

Paul Goggins: The Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety has itself made no assessment of the effectiveness, in infection control terms, of the use of hand gels by hospital staff or visitors. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has established an evidence base for the value of the use of hand sanitizers and their role in infection control. WHO recommends the use of "an alcohol-based hand rub for routine hand antisepsis".
	Hospital trusts are obliged under the Department's Controls Assurance Standards to ensure there is a managed environment, which minimises the risk of infection to patients, staff and visitors and that there is a hand hygiene policy in place which reflects good practice principles. They are free to choose from a range of infection control measures to bring this about. The Department's action plan for the prevention and control of health care associated infections published in March 2006 recommended trusts run a high profile hand hygiene/clean care campaign aimed at healthcare staff, patients, the public, and visitors. £400,000 of funding was provided for that purpose in the financial year 2006-07.

Obesity: Children

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children in each health board area in Northern Ireland were registered as obese in each of the last six years; and what steps he is taking to reduce such figures.

Paul Goggins: The following table illustrates the prevalence of obesity among Primary One (PI) pupils for the periods covering 1997-98 to 2005-06.
	
		
			  Percentage of  P1  children that are obese 
			  Northern Ireland—male and female  1997-98  1999-2000  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Northern Board 4.0 4.6 5.7 5.0 5.0 5.0 
			 Southern Board 4.1 5.6 6.1 6.6 5.9 6.0 
			 Eastern Board 3.2 4.0 4.8 5.7 5.1 5.0 
			 Western Board 4.0 5.6 6.1 5.6 6.1 5.5 
			 NI 3.8 4.8 5.6 5.7 5.5 5.2 
			  Notes: 1. This information is extracted from the Child Health System which is maintained by the four NI health boards. 2. Obesity is defined using the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) Classification of childhood obesity. 3. The data is not based on a sample survey but is based on the total number of P1 pupils fulfilling the valid age criteria who had their height and weight recorded. 
		
	
	Until the recent publication of the NI Health and Social Wellbeing Survey 2005-06 (NIHSWB) the Child Health System data had been the only source of childhood obesity information within NI. Validated figures, which are shown in the following table, are now available from the NIHSWB survey 2005-06 concerning estimates for overweight and obese children in Northern Ireland by health board.
	
		
			  Percentage of NI children that are obese (aged two to 10)—NIHSWB 2005-06 
			   Percentage 
			 Northern Board 5 
			 Southern Board 15 
			 Eastern Board 9 
			 Western Board 13 
			 NI 10 
			  Note: Based on International Obesity Task Force approach (IOTF) 
		
	
	The results from the survey vary markedly from the P1 study partly because the data is based on low 'base' numbers of participants within each health board . It should be also noted that the differences between the boards are not statistically significant and that because these figures have been obtained from a sample survey, that they are estimates and are subject to some degree of sampling error.
	At a regional level the report of the Fit Futures taskforce on tackling obesity in children and young people was published in March 2006. The report included over 70 recommendations designed to deliver the Public Service Agreement target to stop the increase in levels of obesity in children by 2010. Responsibility for this target is shared by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, the Department of Education and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
	A governmental response to the report including a cross-departmental implementation plan has been developed and issued for consultation. Following this a final plan will be issued shortly.
	Locally the four Health and Social Services Boards have been asked to develop local integrated plans to tackle the issue of childhood obesity. These plans should address specific priorities set out in the original Fit Futures report, including enhanced training for front line staff, additional support for children in care, training to improve cooking skills in low income families, and initiatives to tackle specific health and social inequities.

Animal Welfare: Legislation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures he has put in place to inform the public of the changes involved in animal welfare legislation.

Ben Bradshaw: The Animal Welfare Act was launched on 4 April at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal's (RSPCA) Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital, where the BBC series 'Animal Hospital' is filmed.
	Further media interviews were given by Ministers and regional radio interviews were undertaken by veterinarian Dr. Scott Miller on behalf of DEFRA on the morning of the launch.
	The Department's publicity campaign included posters and leaflets. Posters were sent to pet shops and veterinary surgeries. Advertisements were also placed in a number of magazines in the run up to the launch. All activity signposted the public to the DEFRA website which contains comprehensive information on the Act. Our external campaign partners, which include Nestle Purina and Masterfoods, provided links to the DEFRA website on their consumer websites. In addition, there were a series of training events on the Act, held around the country. These were attended by officials from local authorities, Animal Health and the RSPCA.

Avian Influenza

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Food Standards Agency on the decision not to proceed with legal proceedings against Bernard Matthews in relation to the outbreak of H5N1 at the Holton Plant; what was discussed; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA has regular discussions with the Food Standards Agency on a range of issues. However, the decision whether or not to prosecute Bernard Matthews was solely a matter for the FSA to investigate and their legal services to advise on. The FSA has carefully scrutinised and considered the evidence in this case and concluded there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.

Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of carbon dioxide emissions were attributable to  (a) electricity generation,  (b) domestic aviation,  (c) international aviation and  (d) road transport in (i) 1990, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2006.

Ian Pearson: The percentage contribution of electricity generation, domestic aviation, and road transport to UK carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 1990 and 2005 (the latest year for which figures are available) are shown in the following table. Under internationally agreed rules for reporting to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, emissions from international aviation are recorded as memorandum items in the national greenhouse gas inventories, but are not included in the national totals.
	
		
			  CO 2  emissions as a percentage of UK total 
			   Public electricity and heat production  Domestic aviation  Road transport 
			 1990 34.5 0.2 18.5 
			 2005 31.1 0.4 21.6 
		
	
	If international aviation were included in the total UK emissions, CO2 from this source would contribute 2.6 per cent. in 1990 and 5.9 per cent. in 2005.

Common Fisheries Policy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans he has to raise the issue of  (a) the treatment of the UK under the Common Fisheries Policy and  (b) compliance with fishing quotas by other nations at the next Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what information he has received from the European Commission on  (a) levels of over-fishing of bluefin tuna by French vessels and  (b) the penalties imposed on France by the European Commission in respect of such over-fishing; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We understand that the level of bluefin tuna over-fishing declared by France in 2005 was 2,572 tons (an over-fish of 38 per cent.). Figures for 2006 catches have yet to be finalised, however current data shows over-fishing of 1,836 tons (27 per cent.). At present, no penalties have been proposed by the Commission.
	The Government shares the concerns that the hon. Member is raising. It would be inconsistent for the European Commission to apply the rules on payback to the UK for its declared over-fishing of mackerel and herring, but not to do so on the over-fishing of bluefin tuna declared by France.
	I raised this issue at the Agricultural and Fisheries Council on 18 April. It will be raised again at the next Fisheries Council Meeting in May. I have also written to the Fisheries Commissioner explaining my dissatisfaction with the approach being taken. We await a response from the Commission.

Flood Control

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on  (a) hard engineering flood defences and  (b) soft engineering flood defences as a percentage of total flood defence spending in each of the last 10 years.

Ian Pearson: The Environment Agency does not differentiate between soft and hard engineering in assessing their expenditure. The agency use the most appropriate environmentally acceptable, financially viable and technically feasible solutions based on the conditions at the specific location.

Flood Control

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of soft engineering methods for flood management; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Government encourage the flood risk management operating authorities, primarily the Environment Agency (EA), to consider various options when considering solutions to flood risk and to work with natural processes wherever possible. The optimum solution for a particular location will depend on the individual circumstances, for example, the use of beaches to absorb wave energy is a widely used "soft" technique.
	DEFRA is participating in a pan-European research programme under which seven international consortia of researchers are investigating the effectiveness of various non-structural approaches to flood risk as part of the CRUE Eranet research co-ordination programme. These projects will report in 2008.
	The EA has carried out a great deal of work on the effectiveness of soft engineering methods, especially on the key issue of sustainability. Beaches are dynamic and will respond naturally to changing conditions, including sea level rise, where as a "hard" sea wall is a rigid structure which can often accelerate problems including erosion over a period of time. In addition to their sea defence function, soft engineering solutions will also often provide amenity, landscape and nature conservation benefits.

Gyrodactylus Salaris

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the  (a) Estimating transmission parameters of Gyrodactylus: a key requirement for contingency planning and  (b) Development of a risk evaluation system for the establishment of Gyrodactylus salaris in English and Welsh river systems research projects.

Ben Bradshaw: DEFRA is funding work on  (a) and  (b) through projects already under way at the University of Stirling and through work being carried out by scientists at the Cefas Laboratory in Weymouth. Good progress is being made on both projects. Work to construct a database characterising river sites throughout England and Wales (carried out in close co-operation with the Environment Agency) is well advanced. To date, information has been compiled on fish populations from over 8,000 sites, data on water quality from 120,000 sites and data on gyrodactylids from 350 sites. The next phase, beginning shortly, will be to develop a risk evaluation system for the establishment of Gyrodactylus salaris (Gs) based on data of high risk sites including sites with the potential to spread disease to wild populations.
	Research into Gs on these specific matters and related projects are being co-ordinated with scientists in other departments and the devolved Administrations.

Waste Management: Greater London

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what statutory powers the proposed London Waste and Recycling Forum will have to carry out its strategic waste management functions London-wide.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore) on 27 November 2006, Official Report , column 314W.

Whales: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many whales  (a) Norway,  (b) Iceland and  (c) Japan have caught since the last meeting of the International Whaling Commission.

Ben Bradshaw: For the 2005-06 period, the number of whales taken by species and by country, are shown in the following table. This is based on information reported to the International Whaling Commission (IWC).
	
		
			  2005-06 
			   Minke  Sei  Bryde's  Fin  Sperm 
			 Japan (1)1,078 (1)100 (1)50 (1)10 (1)5 
			 Norway 639 — — — — 
			 Iceland (1)39 — — — — 
			 (1) Under Special Permit. 
		
	
	For the 2006-07 period, the following quotas, either under objection to the moratorium or as part of a special ("scientific") permit, have been issued by the countries concerned.
	
		
			  2006-07 
			   Minke  Sei  Bryde's  Fin  Sperm  Humpback 
			 Japan (1)1,155 (1)100 (1)50 (1)10 (1)5 (1)10 
			 Norway 1,052 — — — — — 
			
			 Iceland 69 — — 10 — — 
			  (1)(39) — — — — — 
			 (1) Under Special Permit. 
		
	
	However, for the first time, information on recent catches taken by commercial, aboriginal and scientific permit whaling will be reported in May, at this year's annual meeting of the IWC.

Afghanistan: Drugs

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the UK Government's efforts to reduce the production of heroin in Afghanistan; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime estimate that 70 per cent. of the heroin produced from Afghan opium is now manufactured within Afghanistan itself. The UK is spending £270 million over the next three years to help the Afghan government tackle all aspects of the heroin trade through their National Drug Control Strategy (NDCS).
	The NDCS identifies targeting traffickers at the top end of the trade as the best way to deal with the production and trafficking of opiates. With our assistance, the Afghan authorities have convicted over 350 drug traffickers in the last 18 months. Reports from the United Nations Development Programme show that between March 2005 and March 2006 the authorities seized 70 tonnes of opiates and destroyed 245 laboratories. The UK is also contributing to the Afghan government's efforts to stem the flow of chemicals used in the production of heroin into their country.

European Union

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been planned to increase the profile of the European Union in the UK, with reference to  (a) the 2009 European Parliament elections and  (b) the debate on the European Constitution; and if she will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Government remain committed to engaging with the UK public to generate greater awareness and a mature debate about EU issues. Our work to raise awareness and debate on the future of Europe and EU dossiers has included ministerial speeches and events, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website europe.gov.uk and a printed "Guide to the European Union" available in English, Welsh and audio formats. In respect of the European Parliament elections scheduled for 2009, the independent Electoral Commission is responsible for promoting public awareness and understanding of arrangements for voting at elections in the UK. Additionally, the Electoral Administration Act of 2006 places a duty on local electoral officers to take appropriate steps to promote electoral participation in their area.

Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her policy is on the provision of assistance from British overseas posts to Iraqi nationals who have left Iraq after threats of violence because of their work as interpreters with the British Army.

Kim Howells: All such requests for assistance from Iraqi citizens who served for the Government in Iraq are dealt with on a case by case base, taking account of their particular circumstances.

Iraq-Kuwait Conflict: Compensation

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors informed the decisions by the UN Compensation Commission on who  (a) should and  (b) should not receive compensation payments following detention during the First Gulf War.

Kim Howells: The UN Compensation Commission (UNCC) was established in 1991 by UN Security Council Resolution 687 to process claims and pay compensation for death, injury, losses and damages suffered by individuals, corporations, governments and international organisations as a direct result of Iraq's unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait.
	There were six categories of claims which were assessed and resolved by panels of Commissioners who were independent experts in fields such as law, accountancy, loss adjustment, insurance and engineering.
	The UNCC's claims processing procedures were prescribed by the Security Council and were further elaborated by the Governing Council in a number of its decisions which were implemented by the panels of Commissioners.
	The panels submitted their recommendations on claims to the Governing Council for approval.

Israel: EU Aid

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial support is being given by the EU to the non-governmental organisation the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolitions; what the purpose is of the financial support; what  (a) representations were received from and  (b) discussions were held with the Israeli government prior to giving financial support; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The European Commission has provided the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions with 472,786 for a two year project which started in 2005. The project aims to act as a means of raising political consciousness in Israel about the peace process by bringing Israelis into direct contact with Palestinians and the Occupation through house rebuilding and other political activities. More details of the project can be found on the European Parliament's website at:
	http://www.curoparl.curopa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/dv/projectshrisrael_/projectshrisrael_en.pdf.
	We are not aware of any representations or discussions between the EU and the Israeli government regarding this project.

Occupied Territories

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will assess the legality of  (a) advertising in the UK real estate built in the Palestinian Occupied Territories in violation of Article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and  (b) the advertisement of new build real estate in Har Homa in the Occupied Territories (i) at the Real Estate Exhibition on 18 March and (ii) in editions of the Jewish Chronicle; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The advertising of such property by private persons in the UK is not unlawful. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe, Geoff Hoon, gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Richard Burden) on 16 April 2007,  Official Report, column 39W.

Uganda

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations her Department has made to the Ugandan Government on the humanitarian and security situation in Northern Uganda.

Ian McCartney: We regularly discuss the humanitarian and security situation in northern Uganda in our contacts with the Ugandan Government.
	Most recently, our high commissioner in Kampala, along with other EU heads of mission, discussed the security situation in northern Uganda with Foreign Minister Kutesa on 11 April. The high commissioner also attended a meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee on 30 March, where the humanitarian situation in the north was discussed.
	We are encouraged that the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement was extended on 14 April and that the peace talks are set to resume on 26 April. We call on all parties to remain focused on finding a peaceful solution to this long running conflict.

Departments: Official Hospitality

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures are in place to limit the amount of money spent on alcohol for hospitality purposes by her Department.

Angela Smith: Within Communities and Local Government, the staff handbook gives guidance to staff on when it might be appropriate to offer hospitality and the financial limits that apply. The purchase of alcohol for hospitality reasons is expected to be rare and limited to small amounts.
	Expenditure within the Department is conducted in accordance with the principles of Government Accounting and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken to ensure that the 2016 target for making all new homes carbon neutral will be reached.

Angela Smith: The proposals the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government published on 13 December 2006 set out our draft strategy for moving to zero carbon new homes by 2016. The consultation period on these proposals closed on 8 March 2007 and the final policy statement will be published later this year. The hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) has also established a small task force chaired jointly with Stewart Baseley from the Home Builders Federation to examine and address any barriers to implementation of the zero carbon homes standard.
	We expect to publish the final proposals later this year.

Housing: Sales

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many house sales were completed in the UK in 2006.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 17 April 2007
	 Data for the UK is not held centrally. A provisional estimate for Great Britain is that there were 1.4 million residential property sales in 2006. This is made up of 1.25 million sales in England and Wales as reported by the Land Registry and 150,000 residential property transactions in Scotland according to Registers of Scotland giving a total of 1.4 million for Great Britain.

Social Security Benefits: Credit

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to improve access to affordable credit for those in receipt of benefit.

James Plaskitt: DWP is delivering the £36 million Growth Fund, which has increased the capacity of credit unions and community development financial institutions to make affordable loans to financially excluded people, many of whom are in receipt of benefit. People who might otherwise turn to "doorstep lenders", and loan sharks charging exorbitant rates of interest.
	Up to 31 March the 100+ credit unions and community development finance institutions delivering the affordable loan service across England, Scotland and Wales had made more than 18,000 loans, with a total value in excess of £7.6 million, to people on low income. Around 80 per cent. of Growth Fund loans are made to people in receipt of working age benefits.
	DWP are also delivering the Now Let's Talk Money campaign, which will make people on low incomes aware of the services the Government have made available to them, services such as free face-to-face money advice and affordable credit.

Social Security Benefits: Lie Detectors

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training will be required of operators of lie detection software in benefit authorities.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 20 April 2007
	Voice risk analysis software analyses changes in voice frequency and helps to identify risk. It is not a lie detector. We intend to pilot this software in the London borough of Harrow, and in IS/JSA claims to test whether it can be used to improve customer service and reduce fraud.
	The amount of training operators of voice risk analysis require varies according to their existing skills and knowledge. However, four days of training supported by a period of mentoring is typical.

Education: Assessments

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations he has received on improvements to the Eleven Plus system; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: From time-to-time the Government receives representations both in favour of and against academic selection at eleven plus.
	The Government do not support selection by high academic ability and do not wish to see it extended. Where schools require children to sit selective tests it is for admission authorities to decide upon and administer the testing process.

Further Education: Student Numbers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils entered further education after completing GCSEs in  (a) England and Wales,  (b) each region and  (c) each London borough in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The figures in this answer are for all 16-year-olds, there is no information solely on those that have completed their GCSE qualifications.
	 (a) The following table gives the number and percentage of 16-year-olds in England participating in full-time education at a sixth-form college, further education college, at school or in a higher education institute. The latest year for which data are available is end 2005.
	
		
			  16-year-olds participating in full-time education by institution type, England 2001-05 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  
			   No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  %  No.  % 
			 Sixth-form college 61,000 9.6 62,700 9.9 65,300 10.1 69,200 10.4 71,000 10.9 
			 Other further education colleges 166,400 26.3 166,800 26.4 171,700 26.5 183,400 27.6 191,200 29.3 
			 Schools 218,900 34.5 222,800 35.3 227,900 35.2 235,500 35.4 235,300 36.0 
			 Higher education 1,700 0.3 2,000 0.3 1,800 0.3 2,300 0.3 2,300 0.4 
			 Total 447,900 70.7 454,400 71.9 466,600 72.0 490,300 73.8 499,900 76.5 
		
	
	The Department do not hold figures for Wales.
	 (b) The attached table  (b) gives the number and percentage of 16-year-olds in the regions of England participating in full-time education at a sixth-form college, further education college, or school. The latest year for which data are available is end 2004.
	 (c) The following table  (c) gives the number and percentage of 16-year-olds resident in each outer London authority participating in full-time education at a sixth form college, further education college or school. The latest year for which data are available is end 2004.
	Participation estimates for inner London LEAs are not given due to the high level of cross-boundary flows of independent school students between LEAs.
	
		
			  (b) Participation in education and training of 16-year-olds by type of institution, by region in England 2000-04 
			  Number 
			   Full-time education  Percentage 
			   Maintained schools  Independent schools  Sixth- form college  Other FE  Total  Maintained schools  Independent schools  Sixth- form college  Other FE  Total 
			  End 2004   
			 North East 8,500 1,400 3,300 10,600 23,800 25 4 10 31 69 
			 North West 19,800 3,700 15,800 27,500 66,800 21 4 17 29 70 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 18,700 2,300 7,400 18,000 46,500 27 3 11 26 67 
			 East Midlands 18,900 2,900 2,800 15,800 40,400 33 5 5 27 70 
			 West Midlands 19,900 3,600 7,500 21,600 52,600 27 5 10 29 71 
			 East of England 24,700 4,300 6,700 18,200 53,800 34 6 9 25 75 
			 London 31,700 8,000 8,800 23,100 71,600 35 9 10 26 79 
			 South East 31,400 9,800 15,300 26,200 82,700 29 9 14 25 77 
			 South West 20,500 5,100 1,500 22,600 49,800 31 8 2 34 75 
			
			  End 2003   
			 North East 8,600 1,200 3,000 10,200 23,000 25 4 9 30 67 
			 North West 18,900 3,800 15,200 26,100 64,000 20 4 16 28 69 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 18,300 2,300 6,500 17,600 44,700 27 3 10 26 66 
			 East Midlands 18,300 2,800 2,600 14,400 38,200 33 5 5 26 69 
			 West Midlands 19,600 3,600 7,100 20,300 50,600 27 5 10 28 70 
			 East of England 23,300 4,100 6,600 16,800 50,800 34 6 10 24 73 
			 London 30,200 7,600 8,600 22,200 68,600 34 9 10 25 78 
			 South East 31,000 9,400 14,300 24,000 78,600 30 9 14 23 77 
			 South West 19,500 5,300 1,400 21,100 47,300 31 8 2 33 74 
			
			  End 2002   
			 North East 8,300 1,300 3,000 10,100 22,700 24 4 9 29 66 
			 North West 18,800 3,800 14,400 26,300 63,300 20 4 16 28 68 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 17,900 2,400 6,100 17,600 43,900 27 4 9 27 66 
			 East Midlands 17,800 2,800 2,700 14,200 37,500 33 5 5 26 69 
			 West Midlands 19,200 3,600 7,100 19,200 49,200 27 5 10 27 69 
			 East of England 23,400 4,200 6,300 15,600 49,500 35 6 9 23 74 
			 London 28,300 7,200 8,200 22,100 65,800 33 8 10 26 77 
			 South East 30,200 9,600 13,700 22,300 75,800 30 10 14 22 76 
			 South West 19,100 5,200 1,200 20,400 45,900 31 8 2 33 75 
			
			  End 2001   
			 North East 8,400 1,300 2,900 10,400 23,000 25 4 9 30 67 
			 North West 18,600 3,900 14,300 25,600 62,400 20 4 15 28 67 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 17,900 2,400 6,100 17,500 43,900 27 4 9 27 67 
			 East Midlands 17,400 2,700 2,600 14,200 36,900 32 5 5 26 69 
			 West Midlands 19,100 3,500 7,100 19,100 48,800 27 5 10 27 69 
			 East of England 23,500 4,100 5,900 15,200 48,800 35 6 9 23 72 
			 London 28,200 6,900 7,800 21,900 64,800 33 8 9 25 75 
			 South East 29,700 9,600 13,000 22,800 75,200 29 10 13 23 74 
			 South West 18,700 5,100 1,200 20,400 45,300 31 8 2 33 74 
			
			  End 2000   
			 North East 7,900 1,200 3,000 9,600 21,700 24 4 9 29 66 
			 North West 18,200 3,600 13,500 24,600 59,900 20 4 15 28 67 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 17,100 2,300 5,700 16,800 41,800 27 4 9 27 67 
			 East Midlands 17,200 2,500 2,200 13,000 34,900 33 5 4 25 68 
			 West Midlands 18,100 3,400 6,900 18,400 46,700 27 5 10 27 69 
			 East of England 22,700 4,000 5,700 15,400 47,700 35 6 9 24 73 
			 London 26,100 6,700 7,300 21,000 61,100 32 8 9 26 74 
			 South East 28,700 9,300 11,700 22,200 71,900 30 10 12 23 74 
			 South West 18,200 5,000 1,100 19,400 43,700 31 8 2 33 74 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Participation in education and training of 16-year-olds by type of institution, by London local authority, 2000-04 
			  Number 
			   Full-time education  Percentage 
			   Maintained schools  Independent schools  Sixth-form college  Other FE  Total  Maintained schools  Independent schools  Sixth-form college  Other FE  Total 
			  End 2004   
			 Inner London 7,800 3,700 3,900 8,700 24,100 24 12 12 27 75 
			 Outer London 23,800 4,300 4,900 14,500 47,600 41 7 8 25 82 
			 Barking and Dagenham 900 — 100 500 1,600 43 0 4 25 73 
			 Barnet 1,800 500 300 700 3,300 44 13 7 18 82 
			 Bexley 1,500 100 — 800 2,300 48 2 1 25 76 
			 Brent 1,600 100 200 900 2,800 46 4 5 26 81 
			 Bromley 2,100 300 100 600 3,100 58 8 2 17 84 
			 Croydon 1,200 700 1,000 1,100 3,900 25 15 22 24 85 
			 Ealing 1,500 300 100 1,200 3,100 40 9 2 31 82 
			 Enfield 2,000 — 100 900 3,100 53 1 4 25 83 
			 Greenwich 1,400 200 100 600 2,300 48 5 5 20 78 
			 Harrow 800 500 300 1,300 2,800 23 14 8 38 83 
			 Havering 600 — 900 900 2,400 21 1 29 28 78 
			 Hillingdon 1,600 200 — 800 2,700 49 7 1 24 82 
			 Hounslow 1,300 100 100 700 2,200 46 2 4 27 79 
			 Kingston upon Thames 900 200 100 300 1,500 48 12 7 15 83 
			 Merton 600 200 200 600 1,600 28 10 9 27 75 
			 Redbridge 2,100 100 100 700 3,000 61 3 4 20 88 
			 Richmond upon Thames 200 600 300 600 1,700 11 29 13 33 87 
			 Sutton 1,300 100 100 500 1,900 51 3 3 20 77 
			 Waltham Forest 600 100 900 800 2,400 23 5 31 28 88 
			
			  End 2003   
			 Inner London 7,700 3,400 3,800 8,500 23,400 24 11 12 27 74 
			 Outer London 22,600 4,100 4,800 13,600 45,200 40 7 9 24 80 
			 Barking and Dagenham 900 — 100 500 1,500 41 0 5 26 71 
			 Barnet 1,800 400 200 700 3,200 46 11 6 17 79 
			 Bexley 1,400 100 — 700 2,200 48 2 1 25 76 
			 Brent 1,700 100 200 900 2,800 50 3 5 26 84 
			 Bromley 1,900 300 — 500 2,800 52 8 1 15 76 
			 Croydon 1,000 700 900 1,000 3,600 22 15 20 21 78 
			 Ealing 1,700 300 100 1,100 3,100 43 9 2 28 82 
			 Enfield 1,900 — 200 1,000 3,000 51 1 4 27 83 
			 Greenwich 1,200 200 200 600 2,100 41 6 5 21 73 
			 Harrow 700 400 300 1,200 2,600 24 14 9 38 86 
			 Havering 600 — 800 700 2,200 22 1 29 25 78 
			 Hillingdon 1,400 200 — 800 2,400 44 6 1 26 78 
			 Hounslow 1,300 100 100 600 2,000 45 2 4 23 74 
			 Kingston upon Thames 800 200 100 300 1,400 47 13 8 16 83 
			 Merton 600 300 200 600 1,700 26 12 12 29 79 
			 Redbridge 2,000 100 100 600 2,800 61 4 3 19 88 
			 Richmond upon Thames 200 600 200 600 1,600 10 31 13 35 88 
			 Sutton 1,200 100 100 400 1,800 51 4 4 19 78 
			 Waltham Forest 600 100 900 700 2,300 21 5 32 27 84 
			
			  End 2002   
			 Inner London 7,000 3,400 3,600 8,900 22,900 23 11 12 30 76 
			 Outer London 21,300 3,800 4,600 13,200 42,900 39 7 8 24 78 
			 Barking and Dagenham 800 — 100 500 1,400 37 0 4 21 63 
			 Barnet 1,800 400 300 600 3,100 48 10 7 16 80 
			 Bexley 1,200 — — 700 2,000 43 1 1 25 70 
			 Brent 1,700 — 200 900 2,800 50 1 5 27 82 
			 Bromley 1,900 300 — 600 2,800 55 8 1 16 81 
			 Croydon 900 700 1,000 900 3,500 20 16 23 21 80 
			 Ealing 1,500 300 100 1,000 2,900 39 8 1 27 76 
			 Enfield 1,600 — 100 1,000 2,700 47 0 3 28 78 
			 Greenwich 1,100 100 100 600 1,900 39 5 5 22 70 
			 Harrow 700 400 300 1,100 2,500 25 14 11 37 86 
			 Havering 600 — 800 700 2,100 20 0 30 24 73 
			 Hillingdon 1,400 200 — 700 2,300 47 6 1 24 78 
			 Hounslow 1,200 — 100 700 2,000 43 1 3 25 73 
			 Kingston upon Thames 700 200 200 300 1,400 40 12 9 19 81 
			 Merton 500 200 200 600 1,500 25 11 9 29 74 
			 Redbridge 1,800 100 100 600 2,600 58 4 3 19 83 
			 Richmond upon Thames 200 500 200 600 1,500 9 32 10 38 90 
			 Sutton 1,100 100 100 400 1,700 51 4 4 20 79 
			 Waltham Forest 600 100 800 700 2,300 22 5 31 26 83 
			
			  End 2001   
			 Inner London 7,200 3,300 3,300 8,600 22,400 24 11 11 28 73 
			 Outer London 20,900 3,700 4,500 13,300 42,400 38 7 8 24 76 
			 Barking and Dagenham 800 — 100 400 1,300 34 0 3 19 56 
			 Barnet 1,700 400 200 700 3,000 43 10 6 18 77 
			 Bexley 1,200 — — 800 2,000 41 0 1 26 69 
			 Brent 1,600 — 200 1,000 2,700 45 0 5 28 79 
			 Bromley 1,800 300 — 600 2,700 53 8 1 17 78 
			 Croydon 800 600 1,000 900 3,300 19 15 23 20 77 
			 Ealing 1,500 300 100 1,000 2,900 40 7 2 27 76 
			 Enfield 1,800 — 100 900 2,800 49 0 2 25 76 
			 Greenwich 1,000 200 100 600 1,900 37 6 5 21 68 
			 Harrow 700 400 300 1,100 2,500 23 15 10 38 85 
			 Havering 600 — 800 700 2,100 19 0 28 24 71 
			 Hillingdon 1,400 200 — 700 2,300 47 6 0 23 76 
			 Hounslow 1,200 — 100 700 2,000 43 1 3 24 71 
			 Kingston upon Thames 700 200 100 300 1,300 40 12 8 20 80 
			 Merton 500 200 200 600 1,500 24 11 8 28 71 
			 Redbridge 1,800 100 100 600 2,600 56 4 3 18 82 
			 Richmond upon Thames 200 500 200 700 1,500 10 31 11 40 93 
			 Sutton 1,100 100 100 400 1,700 51 3 4 19 77 
			 Waltham Forest 600 100 800 600 2,200 22 5 29 23 79 
			  End 2000   
			 Inner London 6,500 3,100 3,000 8,200 20,800 22 11 10 28 72 
			 Outer London 19,600 3,600 4,300 12,700 40,300 37 7 8 24 76 
			 Barking and Dagenham 800 — 100 400 1,300 37 0 3 21 62 
			 Barnet 1,900 300 200 600 3,100 52 9 6 17 85 
			 Bexley 1,100 — — 700 1,900 43 0 1 27 71 
			 Brent 1,300 — 200 800 2,300 38 1 5 25 69 
			 Bromley 2,000 200 — 500 2,700 61 7 1 14 83 
			 Croydon 400 900 1,000 800 3,100 9 20 24 19 71 
			 Ealing 1,100 300 100 1,100 2,400 30 7 2 30 69 
			 Enfield 1,700 — 100 900 2,700 51 0 3 26 79 
			 Greenwich 900 100 100 600 1,700 33 4 5 22 64 
			 Harrow — 400 300 1,100 1,800 1 13 11 40 66 
			 Havering 500 — 800 700 1,900 18 0 27 25 70 
			 Hillingdon 1,400 200 — 700 2,300 50 7 1 23 81 
			 Hounslow 1,500 — 100 700 2,300 56 1 3 25 85 
			 Kingston upon Thames — — — — — * * * * * 
			 Merton 300 200 200 600 1,300 14 12 10 32 68 
			 Redbridge — — — — — * * * * * 
			 Richmond upon Thames — 500 100 600 1,200 1 31 8 38 77 
			 Sutton — — — — — * * * * * 
			 Waltham Forest 400 100 700 700 1,900 13 4 26 25 69

School Sports Partnerships

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what level of funding will be available to school sport partnerships beyond 2008;
	(2)  what advice the Youth Sports Trust will provide to schools about school sport partnerships beyond 2008.

Jim Knight: holding answer 19 April 2007
	The Department for Education and Skill's Comprehensive Spending Review settlement is currently being reviewed by the Secretary of State.
	The ambition is that by 2010, all young people will be offered at least four hours of sport every week. This will comprise of at least two hours of PE and sport during the school day and at least an additional two to three hours of sport beyond the school day (delivered by a range of school, community and club providers). The Youth Sport trust will continue to support school sport partnerships—which include every maintained school in England to achieve this.

Estate Agents: Complaints

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many complaints about the conduct of estate agents were received by the Office of Fair Trading in 2006; and how many investigations were conducted as a result;
	(2)  how many Office of Fair Trading investigations following complaints against estate agents in 2006 resulted in fines being payable; and what the total amount of fines levied was.

Ian McCartney: In 2006, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) received 210 complaints about the conduct of estate agents. As a result of the complaints received, 117 investigations were carried out into estate agent activities by the OFT in 2006.
	The Office of Fair Trading did not prosecute any estate agents for offences under the Estate Agents Act in 2006. This is because there are very few criminal offences associated with the Act. The most serious acts of misconduct by estate agents are instead dealt with by banning the individual concerned from being able to engage in estate agency work. This is the most effective means of protecting consumers.
	In 2006, the Office of Fair Trading issued three warning orders and five prohibition orders under the Estate Agents Act 1979. In addition, it obtained four undertakings from estate agents under part 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002, and it also issued 63 advisory or warning letters.
	The use of informal actions, such as advisory or warning letters, alongside the formal powers reflects the need for responsible and proportionate enforcement. Formal action against estate agents involves banning them, or threatening to ban them, from estate agency work. Formal action can therefore have significant repercussions in that it can take away an individual's livelihood. Parliament has therefore necessarily made the burden of evidential proof substantial and such action would only be taken in the limited number of cases where the most serious instances of misconduct are not only identified, but clearly established, and where the agent's fitness to continue in estate agency work is seriously called into question.

Medical Research Council

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  to what extent preferences shown by members of the public may influence the research priorities set by the Medical Research Council;
	(2)  what  (a) process and  (b) decision-making criteria will be used to set research funding priorities for the Medical Research Council in each of the next three years; and what the timetable is for the setting of those priorities in each year.

Malcolm Wicks: The MRC will set its research priorities for the three years from 2008-09 to 2010-11 building upon its extensive consultation with stakeholders, including the research community, other Research Councils, Government Departments, the national health services (NHS), industry and the public. The detailed research priorities will be developed by the MRC's research boards and, where appropriate, involving the Office of Strategic Coordination of Health Research (OSCHR), and will be finalised once the MRC's allocation from the Science Budget is known.
	The decision-making criteria include scientific opportunity, the impact of research on improving human health, the tractability of the area, the potential for exploitation, and opportunities for research training.
	The timetable covers:
	When the science budget allocation to the MRC from CSR 2007 is made, the MRC will prepare a strategic plan for the four years 2008-09 to 2011-12. This is likely to be published towards the end of 2007 or early in 2008.
	Priorities will continue to be reviewed during the next three years as described. Future MRC delivery plans will be published in April/May of each year. Any new priorities that arise in-between times will be announced on the MRC website.
	The MRC has a range of longstanding mechanisms to sustain dialogue with the general public, to capture and use public opinion and attitudes in developing research priorities, corporate and communications objectives. These include a requirement of a lay representation on the steering committees, public and patient involvement in numerous committees, workshops and panels. The MRC also holds annual public meetings. In addition, the MRC has a programme of public consultations, often in collaboration with other research councils under the RCUK banner, which allow MRC to gauge public attitudes to, awareness and expectations of the research areas and some examples include the use of animals in research; research using human embryos; ageing research; and the use of personal health information for research.
	The MRC set up in 2000 a consumer liaison group for developing public and patient involvement, which became the Advisory Group on Public Involvement in 2003. The MRC is currently developing a public panel that would assist the setting up a network of lay experts.

Public Holidays

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make St. George's Day a Bank Holiday in England.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The present pattern of bank holidays in the United Kingdom is well established and accepted, and the Government have no plans to change the arrangements.

Departments: Pressure Groups

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings took place between Ministers in her Department and outside interest groups between 1st January and 31st March; and what the date was of each such meeting.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Departments: Railways

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of travel by train by staff on official business in her Department in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The available information up to 2003-04 is shown in the following table. In April 2004, the Department introduced a new accounting system. Under the new accounting system information on train travel costs cannot be separated from other travel and subsistence costs without incurring disproportionate costs.
	
		
			  £ 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-00  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04 
			 UK 2,464,284 3,583,589 4,785,867 J3y 160,225 4,031,956 4,336,592 5,108,219 
			 Overseas 35,853 39,241 30,977 26,902 36,899 27,231 26,540 
			 Total 2,500,137 3,622,830 4,816,845 3,187,127 4,068,855 4,363,823 5,134,759

Maternity Services: Gravesham

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future provision of ante-natal services available to patients in Gravesham.

Ivan Lewis: This a matter for the local national health service. However in Gravesham, as elsewhere in the country, we would expect NHS organisations to follow the maternity standard of the children's national service framework and the guidelines on antenatal care published in 2003 by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). In terms of antenatal education, the guidelines confirm that there are many different ways of providing classes and antenatal education. Variations can occur in the number of classes offered, their content, whether they are offered individually or in groups, and when during the course of the pregnancy they are offered.

NHS: Intimidation

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints of harassment or bullying have been made by employees of the NHS; and what steps have been taken  (a) to deal with and  (b) to eradicate it.

Rosie Winterton: The Healthcare Commission's National Health Service Staff Survey was published on 30 March. The survey records staff experiences of violence and bullying. The results can be found on the Healthcare Commission's website:
	www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases.cfm/cit_id/5334/FAArea1/customWidgets.content_view_l/usecache/false
	The NHS Security Management Service (NHS SMS) is part of the Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (CFSMS), a division of the NHS Business Service Authority (a Special Health Authority), and has overall responsibility for all policy and operational matters related to the management of security in the NHS including bullying and violence against staff.
	Guidance on reporting and dealing with non-physical assaults against NHS staff and professionals was issued to health bodies in November 2004. From 1 April 2004, a national syllabus for conflict resolution training (CRT) has been made available for all frontline staff and professionals working in the NHS. The aim is to equip staff with the necessary skills to be able to identify and de-escalate potentially violent situations from occurring in the first place. Returns from health bodies for the financial year 2005-06 indicate that around 250,000 frontline staff have been trained in conflict resolution skills, to date.
	Research on the conflict resolution training programme delivered to NHS frontline staff produced extremely encouraging results which have been published in February 2007. The results from the two-year study indicated that CRT had a positive impact on respondents' perceptions of safety, their experiences of abuse and their perceived abilities to deal with abuse at work. The full report on the findings is available at www.cfsms.nhs.uk.
	On Wednesday 1 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, announced an increase of 12 per cent. in the number of people prosecuted for assaults against NHS staff, from 759 in 2004-05 to 850 in 2005-06. This shows a marked increase on the reported 51 criminal sanctions for the 2002-03 period.
	Figures for the number of reported assaults against NHS staff were also released on 1 November 2006. The statistics show there were 58,695 physical assaults against NHS staff reported in England, 1,690 fewer than 2004-05—and one for every 23 staff members, down from 22 in 2004-05.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many intervention orders have been applied as part of an antisocial behaviour order in  (a) Bristol local authority and  (b) each Respect Action area since this power came into effect on 1 October 2006.

Tony McNulty: Data on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued at all courts are currently available covering the period up to 31 December 2005. Data for subsequent periods will be published in due course. However, as I made clear in a written ministerial statement on 7 December 2006,  Official Report, column 30WS, this data does not cover intervention orders. A new national system for collecting data on ASBOs centrally is scheduled for implementation from 1 July, and will incorporate new reporting requirements, including data on intervention orders which will be available at Criminal Justice System area level.

ICT: Home Office

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost was of updating his Department's Large Major Enquiry System 2 computer system to Version 11.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 20 April 2007
	The Version 11 Upgrade to HOLMES 2, which included the refresh of the free text retrieval package cost £585,836. PITO paid £302,486 and the forces contributed £283,350 via a centrally managed uplift fund. This included £165,855 for CasWeb which is part of HOLMES 2.

Prisoners Release

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders given life sentences since 2000 have already been released.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 20 April 2007
	Answering the question would involve a significant manual checking of records and the earlier request for this information was integral to informing the need for a data quality review in the Department. Since then the data quality review has begun and, as part of that review we are developing a new database that will enable us to collect the data requested centrally. But, at this time to answer the question would involve a disproportionate cost.

Income Tax: Tax Thresholds

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the reduction in revenue from raising the 40 per cent. tax rate threshold for income tax to £50,000 of taxable income in a full tax year.

Dawn Primarolo: Raising the higher rate threshold to £50,000 for 2007-08 would cost £5.3 billion.
	his estimate is based on the 2004-05 survey of personal Incomes projected forward in line with Budget 2007 assumptions.
	he figure excludes any estimate of behavioural response which could be significant given the scale of the change.

Taxation: Overseas Residence

Michael Meacher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have non-domiciliary tax status; how many people have  (a) claimed and  (b) been refused such status in the last 10 years; what the total amount of tax paid by non-domiciled taxpayers was in each of the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of the tax foregone in 2006-07 as a result of the granting of non-domiciliary tax status.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 22 March 2007
	No overall figure for the number of individuals with non-domiciliary tax status, the number of people claiming non-domiciliary tax status or the number of people refused such status is available.
	And no estimates have been made of the tax foregone in 2006-07 as a result of granting non-domicile tax status. Information is not held on overseas income and gains that do not give rise to a tax liability in the UK.

Welfare Tax Credits

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason able-bodied people under the age of 25 years without children are not able to claim any tax credits regardless of their income levels.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 16 April to the hon. Member for Dundee West (Mr. McGovern),  Official Report, column. 422W.